Region making progress on ending violence against women

A beacon of light is emerging across the Middle East and North Africa region, signaling a new era in the fight against violence targeting women. It is led by a series of robust legal reforms, shifting cultural attitudes and policy-driven interventions. Governments, communities and advocacy groups are coming together to ensure that women in the region can live a dignified life, free from violence and all forms of abuse. In doing so, they are crafting a future where women’s safety, rights and empowerment are at the heart of societal progress.
Long deemed to be an entrenched issue in the region, violence against women has been a persistent and pervasive challenge, with an alarming 2024 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development report claiming that nearly one in three married women in the MENA region have experienced physical or sexual abuse by an intimate partner at least once in their lifetime. And a report published by the Social Institutions and Gender Index in 2023 revealed that fewer than half of MENA countries had laws protecting women from forms of violence beyond physical abuse, such as psychological and economic abuse.
However, this challenge is being rapidly dismantled through interventions led by MENA governments. From landmark legislation criminalizing all forms of violence and domestic abuse against women to national strategies advancing women’s rights, progress is becoming more tangible. Furthermore, widespread awareness campaigns and educational programs are rewriting cultural norms to ensure women’s rights prevail.
Violence against women is a complex and multifaceted matter that includes a broad spectrum of interlinked forms, including intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, sexual violence, exploitation, harassment, stalking, technology-facilitated violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, honor-based killings, human trafficking and workplace violence. As such, policies, programs and legislative reforms must take a more human-centric approach, considering the full journey that women face, from prevention to post-abuse recovery.
Perhaps the recalibration of this issue should begin with capturing important datasets that shed light on incidence and prevalence, demographic details, reported cases, the number of legal cases and the utilization rates of support services. Additionally, data on the healthcare impacts of abuse and violence, societal attitudes and the effects on children and families can help design targeted interventions and mass communication campaigns.
Violence against women is predominantly perpetrated by men and boys across all countries, largely triggered by toxic social norms and notions of masculinity, making it essential for a comprehensive strategy that focuses on changing male attitudes as part of prevention and management efforts. MENA countries have launched groundbreaking initiatives to shift men’s and boys' attitudes toward violence and abuse against women, both nationally and regionally.

Awareness campaigns and educational programs are rewriting cultural norms to ensure women’s rights prevail.

Sara Al-Mulla

One compelling example is the “Because I am a Man” campaign, a collaboration between the governments of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco and Tunisia, alongside UN Women. This campaign focused on preventing violence against women and fostering positive masculinity by engaging men, particularly through fatherhood, to challenge gender-based discrimination. The campaign included many grassroots activities, reaching 480,000 men and an online audience of 17 million.
On the other hand, once violence occurs, it is critical that policymakers put in place responsive and empathetic support systems, including access to helplines, shelters, legal assistance, financial assistance and counseling. A noteworthy example comes from the Egyptian government, which established a Collective Unit for the Protection of Women from Violence in 2021 and a reception center that integrates support services from various ministries and governmental authorities. This center offers an initial examination of victims and survivors, facilitates reporting of the case and the filing of legal complaints, provides temporary accommodation during investigations and refers women to a network of legal aid, health, psychological and social services.
Another example is the Jordanian National Commission for Women, which has mapped out a comprehensive list of all services available to survivors in the country and published a directory of hotlines linked to the Family Protection Unit and various nongovernmental organizations. Meanwhile, many MENA countries — such as Bahrain, Morocco and the UAE — offer victims and survivors temporary shelters.
At the same time, legal frameworks should hold perpetrators accountable. For instance, the UAE’s Federal Decree-Law No. (13) of 2024 on the Protection Against Domestic Violence establishes comprehensive legal measures to prevent, address and penalize domestic violence, thereby protecting survivors and holding perpetrators accountable for their dreadful actions.
Beyond the stages of legal and social support, recovery should also focus on restoring the victim’s sense of dignity and empowerment. Therefore, programs could be designed with a long-term recovery perspective, such as providing psychological counseling, vocational training and economic empowerment through workforce participation or entrepreneurship.
To assist with its complex suite of interventions, Egypt has drafted a series of practical guides for various service providers who work with victims and survivors, including medical professionals, judiciary members, police officers, hotline operators, social workers and NGO staff. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s National Family Strategy, developed in alignment with Vision 2030, includes programs to open new economic pathways for women, empower them to make informed life choices, protect them from abuse, and facilitate access to all kinds of government services.
Ultimately, victims and survivors should be given all the necessary tools to rebuild their lives.
As we look to the future, MENA governments have an opportunity to transform challenges into progress by implementing stronger policies, advancing legal protections and fostering a culture of zero tolerance for violence against women — empowering women to thrive in this new, brighter landscape.

• Sara Al-Mulla is an Emirati civil servant with an interest in human development policy and children’s literature. She can be contacted at www.amorelicious.com.